As they waited outside to take their turn in the Headmaster’s office, the children slumped against the walls with their heads down. Nadia watched as occasionally someone would put their head up and look around to see what the others were doing. For some, this was a nonchalant look that said, ‘can’t wait to get this over and done with.’ For others it was a look of fear, pale-faced, with sweat beading on their forehead, dreading what was to come.
Nadia and her three friends had no clue what to expect, and that in itself was nerve-wracking, but by the time it came to their turn, they had a much better idea. Being last didn’t always have its advantages.
The squeals and screams of pain coming from the Head’s office varied in volume and tone. Some cried, others merely made a small sound, one that they mustn’t have quite been able to hold in. All came out looking dejected, pupils wide, faces red, eyes puffy.
Nadia felt sick. Her palms were sweating and she could feel her pulse pounding in her ears.
“I’ll go first,” Tomma said. “This is so unfair. I don’t see why we should have to get the cane too. We never started it.” He lowered his voice and leaned in close to the others. “This is illegal where we come from.”
“I know,” Jess said. “But it’s not as if we can tell him that, is it? I can’t believe someone is actually going to hit me on the hand with a stick. Is it going to hurt? It’s going to be awful, isn’t it? Oh, I can’t stand all this waiting—and look at them.” She pointed to a boy just emerging from the office, trying desperately to wipe away his tears before anyone noticed. “Not so brave now, are they?”
“Try to stay calm, Jessy,” Tomma said, putting his arm around her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “I know it sucks, but it doesn’t look like we’re going to get out of this.”
Jess looked as though she might cry. Her eyes glassy with unshed tears and her bottom lip quivering ever so slightly.
“Next!”
They all jumped at the sound of the Headmaster’s booming voice echoing around the corridor. Tomma swallowed, blew out a deep breath and nodded at them, before pushing away from the wall and standing fully upright.
“See you on the other side,” he said. “Jessy, I’ll be here waiting for you, I promise.”
Jess could only nod and Nadia put a hand on her arm in an attempt to comfort her best friend. Ash shook his head in disbelief as he watched Tomma walk away from them and into the office.
Within a few minutes he was back out again, shaking his hand and rubbing at the palm. With the Headmaster glaring at him, he had no choice but to walk away. Nadia went next and as she walked into the office, she wasn’t sure if there was something wrong with her legs. They felt wobbly, as though they’d forgotten how to work.
“Do you know how much of my time this has wasted today?” the Headmaster said.
“No sir,” Nadia said, keeping her head down.
“Too much time, that’s how much,” he said. “Would you care to explain your involvement now you’re here?”
Nadia told him how the boys had discovered her Polish name and had attacked her because of it. “We were just defending ourselves, sir, with the help of Kam and my three friends.”
“Either way, you will all suffer the same punishment for the sheer lack of respect you’ve shown for this school. Do you understand?” he said.
“Yes sir.”
“Hold out your hand.”
Nadia raised her arm, the flat of her hand facing upwards. She was aware how much it was shaking. The Head grabbed at it, pulling her arm towards him and straighter still. She closed her eyes and waited, trying not to wince.
The pain was like the sting of the cold on a freezing winter’s day, followed by the sear of a white-hot burn. By the time Nadia had suffered five of these stings, she could no longer feel her fingers. She pulled her hand towards her chest, cradling it as if it was the most precious thing in the world. Still keeping her head down, she left the room.
It was the most humiliating thing Nadia had ever had to suffer, far worse than her disastrous presentation at junior school—and the aftermath that followed. No, this was much, much worse.
Nadia couldn’t wait to get out of the school and back home to the present time, where she could guarantee no adult would hit her and make her feel that way. She knew it would be a long afternoon.